Keep It Simple

If, like me, you enjoy making your own cards to send out you probably face the same challenges I do. Of course you want your cards to be attractive, but you don't want to spend an hour + on each one.  Nor do you want to have to pay extra postage because you added 1/2 a pound and 3/4 of an inch of embellishments.  Here are some cards that have color, texture, and layers, yet fit in a standard greeting card envelope and are flat enough and light enough to take a single first class stamp.

 

These are the same design with different papers.  All are from a current Stampin' Up Christmas pack.  I just cut triangles, inked the edges with brown ink, and glued one on top of the other.  The ribbon has a simple knot and is wrapped around the tree, which is then attached to a different piece of patterned paper.  I made as many of these variations as there were patterns in the pack.  The star was punched from glitter paper, also from SU, and which I've had in my stash for a few years.  It is attached with a pop dot.  And just so you know, no rulers or paper cutters were used to make the triangles.  They were all eyeballed and cut with a scissors.

The triangle gave me an idea for another card which is different, but no less simple.

 

 

For this one I got to use some patterned paper I've had for ages, and added the holly leaves and numbers (both Tim Holtz movers and shapers dies).  The berries are three little brads I pressed into ink and then embossing glitter for a little bling.

 

Another way to simplify your card making is to use leftovers.  The next card also started out with triangles, but I had this Tim Holtz reindeer lying around, already cut, painted and glittered, unused in another project, so.....

 

 

 

BTW, the reindeer had been colored with tarnished brass distress stain, then covered with glue n seal, then sprinkled with distress rock candy dry glitter.  His hat and scarf were also cut from snippets of left over projects.  And this one also fit into a regular envelope and required no extra postage.

 

Although making tags in the #8 size seems to be the most popular, I like using a smaller (I think it's a #5) tag because with just a tiny bit of trimming on the bottom, it fits perfectly on the mat for a standard card.  People often ask what to do with their tags.  Well, with just a bit of paper and adhesive you can turn it into a lovely card.  The tag was already done.  Another hint:  if you like participating in challenges, come autumn, start doing your challenge pieces on this size tag and in a holiday theme.  By early December you'll have done all the heavy work on a stash of beautiful and unique cards.  The next two cards began as tags, and I admit, they will require some extra postage.  But they took about two minutes to put together, so well worth it.

 





 

I also make Hanukkah cards, which is always a challenge.  There just aren't that many stamps, papers, and embellishments available for this holiday, and I don't want to use the same few items I do have over and over each year, so a little improvising is always in order.  This year, I pulled out an old school cutting tool.  I wonder, with all the dies, punches, and cutting machines available, how many of you remember the Coluzzle?  I used it with the small oval template, cutting in every slot. Starting with the smallest one, I used every other resulting half oval to form the menorrah, which is how I got all the candle holders to line up.  The leftover paper was cut (again, eyeballed) to create the stem and base.  As for the Hanukkah greeting, that was computer generated.

 



 

Hint:  if you attach the greeting first, centering it on the top of the card, it is then easy to line up the stem of the menorrah so that all the other parts wind up in the right place, none are hanging over the edge of the card, and there is room for the center candle to be taller than the rest, as it must be.  You really don't want to know how I figured that out.